Tamarac Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Tamarac Wildlife Management Area is 615 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Stearns County, near Brooten, inside Deer Permit Area 277. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for it. Hunters registered 4,575 deer in DPA 277 in 2025.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: the DNR's wildlife management area data, read 2026-10. Harvest: DNR Deer Harvest Reports, 2021 to 2025.
State wildlife management areasNational wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areasTamarac WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 615 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Stearns County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 277 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Brooten |
| DNR area office | Sauk Rapids |
| Nearest towns | Brooten (2 mi), Belgrade (4 mi) and Elrosa (9 mi) |
What is Tamarac WMA like?
This WMA is composed of 60 % lowland brush, cattail, phragmites, and tamarack. The balance of the area is approximately 25 % hardwood forest and 15 % restored native grassland. Future management includes prairie conversion and oak reforestation.
Unique floral species occur within the tamarack bog area as identified in the Stearns County Biological Survey. This WMA is a significant wintering area for deer, pheasants and turkeys.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Tamarac WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for Tamarac WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Tamarac WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Tamarac WMA?
Tamarac WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 277. The DNR registered 4,575 deer in DPA 277 in 2025, against 4,301 in 2024.
| DPA | Tamarac WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 277 | 615 | 4,575 | 4,301 | 4,013 |
Harvest for the whole deer permit area, not the WMA alone: Minnesota DNR Deer Harvest Reports (2021 to 2025, 2025 report).
How do you get to Tamarac WMA?
3 miles south of Brooten within Sections 17,18, 19, and 20, T123N, R35W.
Nearest towns: Brooten (2 miles), Belgrade (4 miles), Elrosa (9 miles) and Sunburg (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 55 and US 71.
What other public land is near Tamarac WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Edward Raymond Mohs WMA: 336 acres, next to it
- Norman T. Dahlman WMA: 303 acres, 2.3 miles away
- Milton Kjeldahl WMA: 196 acres, 3.2 miles away
- Little Jo WMA: 301 acres, 3.7 miles away
- Oxcart Crossing WMA: 210 acres, 4.2 miles away
- North Fork WMA: 255 acres, 4.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Tamarac WMA
Counting Tamarac WMA itself, 1,648 of the 31,499 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (5.2%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 1,247 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 401 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Tamarac WMA?
In Stearns County, near Brooten. The DNR's directions: 3 miles south of Brooten within Sections 17,18, 19, and 20, T123N, R35W.
Which deer permit area is Tamarac WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 277. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Tamarac WMA?
1,648 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Tamarac WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Edward Raymond Mohs WMA (next to it).
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Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Minnesota included.
Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Tamarac WMA; Minnesota DNR Wildlife Management Area boundaries, publicly accessible.
- Boundary and acres: the DNR's map layer above. Surrounding public land: USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
- Deer harvest: Minnesota DNR Deer Harvest Reports (2021 to 2025, 2025 report).
FilledTag is not part of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Check the DNR's rules and posted signs before you go.